82 | Rico Lewis - 2024/25

[youngbob]

This is it. He doesn't have the luxury of being protected the way Foden has been. He's in over his head right now and there's nobody to take the workload off him.

It got like this for him during the treble season. Cancelo had thrown his toys out the pram so it was all on Rico - that 1-0 defeat at Spurs around February time was sad. They just bullied him off the park - the Spurs goal came from Lewis being caught ball watching by Hojbjerg and he just got pushed to the floor. Pep saw a bit of sense and pulled him out the team, going to that 3-2-4-1 system for the first time. He'd be doing the same now but Walker, Akanji, Ake, Kovacic, Dias, and Stones (all players who'd be replacing him) can't stay fit at the moment.

 

[Stiff Little Wingers]

Thought he was pretty ok today. Showed for the ball, handled it ok and tried to get stuck in. But aside from one cross field pass he was very limited with his range of passing, passed backwards and very conservatively all night. Didn’t ever break the lines or get us moving. Young lad so time to develop and may become a tidy squad player but I just cannot see how he features prominently in a side wanting to compete at the top end of European football.

Excellent summary. Also, doesn't move the ball quickly - a 2 yard sideways pass can be very effective if played first time

 

[ninjamonkey]

If he plays against the dippers, they'll target him on the ball, he's far too easy to bully and disposes and they'll ruthlessly target the chasms of space he leaves when they have the ball. It will be absolutely brutal. Don't do it to him Pep.

 

[chris85mcfc]

20 years old

Understood. However, 79 appearances is more than enough to judge a player of any age.

 

[come-on-barney]

Why on earth did he turn his back and not face the player on the 3rd goal. Not sure what he was trying to do when getting back for that goal. Needs a rest for a few games now.

 

[red 2 hats]

I will give him his due, he doesn't hide from the ball and he's not scared of receiving it in tight spaces, he wasn't the worse player last night

 

[Kinkladze 1]

Is he actually good enough in the cold light of day?

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Excellent summary. Also, doesn't move the ball quickly - a 2 yard sideways pass can be very effective if played first time

Oh the number of times when I see a player make a pass I remark that they could have made the same pass five seconds earlier. It's so fuckin' slow, ponderous, to the point of tedium. We must be way out in front on the number of passes our back three/four make in a game.

 

[Mr HJ]

Did ok but in a position that has so much responsibility and % of possession is ok really enough? The mad thing is in Pep's eyes he did in the managers words "a great job" but for me he created nothing and actually slowed the pace of our play down. We are a team that thrives on playing quicker because we have a striker that needs that. Gundo last night finally started to get his head up and look forward yet Rico does not have that in his game he is far too conservative and for that reason his inclusion is one of the factors why we are on such a bad run.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

Did ok but in a position that has so much responsibility and % of possession is ok really enough? The mad thing is in Pep's eyes he did in the managers words "a great job" but for me he created nothing and actually slowed the pace of our play down. We are a team that thrives on playing quicker because we have a striker that needs that. Gundo last night finally started to get his head up and look forward yet Rico does not have that in his game he is far too conservative and for that reason his inclusion is one of the factors why we are on such a bad run.

I think Rico is much better at mopping up than sprouting up. I think there are few players in the PL who are as eager to get involved. He's not afraid of making mistakes and they don't hang around him for the rest of the game. I just wish he was built like Vinny!